Online harassment has become a significant issue in today’s digital age, affecting people across various platforms and communities. According to Pew Research, 41% of Americans have personally experienced some form of online harassment. The study was published in 2021, although I am sure that number has increased over the last few years. Online harassment refers to abusive behavior conducted through digital platforms with the intent to harm, intimidate, or otherwise distress an individual or group. It encompasses a wide range of harmful activities facilitated by the internet, including social media, messaging apps, forums, and other online communication tools.
Types of Online Harassment
Online harassment can take many forms, each with its own methods and impact. Here are the main types of online harassment:
1. Cyberbullying
Definition: Repeated, deliberate harm inflicted through electronic means.
Definition: Intentionally provoking or upsetting people online to elicit emotional responses.
Examples: Posting inflammatory comments in forums, making offensive jokes, or derailing conversations with disruptive remarks.
3. Doxxing
Definition: Publishing private or identifying information about an individual without their consent.
Examples: Sharing someone’s home address, phone number, or personal photographs.
4. Swatting
Definition: Making false reports to emergency services to have them dispatched to someone’s address.
Examples: Reporting a fake hostage situation or bomb threat, leading to police SWAT teams being sent to the victim’s home.
5. Hate Speech
Definition: Online communication that demeans individuals or groups based on attributes like race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
Examples: Racist slurs, anti-Semitic comments, sexist remarks, and homophobic language.
6. Sexual Harassment
Definition: Unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
Examples: Sending unsolicited explicit images, making sexually suggestive comments, or stalking someone online.
7. Impersonation
Definition: Pretending to be someone else online to deceive others.
Examples: Creating fake profiles, sending messages under another person’s name, or posting as someone else to damage their reputation.
8. Cyberstalking
Definition: The use of the internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual, group, or organization.
Examples: Repeatedly sending threatening emails, monitoring someone’s online activities, or using social media to track someone’s whereabouts.
9. Flaming
Definition: Posting hostile and insulting messages online, often in forums or social media platforms.
Examples: Aggressive and heated arguments, personal attacks, or profanity-laden tirades.
10. Catfishing
Definition: Creating a fake online persona to deceive others, typically for romantic or financial gain.
Examples: Pretending to be someone else on dating sites, forming online relationships under false pretenses, or soliciting money under a false identity.
11. Mobbing
Definition: Collective harassment by a group targeting an individual.
Examples: Coordinated attacks or campaigns against someone on social media, mass reporting of someone’s account to get them banned.
12. Outing
Definition: Publicly revealing someone’s private, sensitive, or embarrassing information without their consent.
Examples: Disclosing someone’s sexual orientation, sharing private messages or images, or revealing someone’s medical condition.
13. Online Shaming
Definition: Publicly humiliating someone online for their behavior or actions.
Examples: Viral posts calling out someone’s behavior, mass sharing of embarrassing videos, or targeted hashtag campaigns.
14. Gaslighting
Definition: Manipulating someone by psychological means into questioning their own sanity.
Examples: Denying previous online interactions, altering messages or posts to make someone doubt their memory, or spreading false information to discredit someone.
Understanding these various forms of online harassment is crucial for recognizing and combating them effectively.
The first place to start is to document everything should this happen to you or to a client of yours. Hire us to do a deep dive. Even the most skilled at this can mess up and it sometimes is found in the smallest little detail. We can help!
One of the most fascinating aspects of social media for me has always been the psychological angle or behavioral science to it all. Behavioral science is a field that analyses human behavior. It focuses on observing, describing, explaining, predicting, and modifying behavior through systematic observation and manipulation of environmental variables. This can be applied to social media in various ways. Marketers have been doing it for years~ profiling users of social media to better advertise their products or services. In fact, social media can even be used to better understand population dietary behaviors. The review identified 34 studies involving social media analysis (SMA). They took a deep dive on alcohol consumption, dieting and eating away from home behaviors. Twitter was predominant with data sets in tens of millions.
This is nothing new for OSINT researchers, Investigative Journalists, Law Enforcement, and Private Investigators. We have learned just how much you can discover through various platforms from finding a missing child to uncovering financial fraud and everything in between.
We like to start off by examining the age of the person and which platforms they are more likely to be on.
Demographics of Platforms: AGE
The recent data from Pew Research may suggest we should pay closer attention to certain social media platforms based on age. YouTube and Facebook still remain the top two most used platforms across all demographics. This data is a good place to start and may help to uncover different usernames that can later be used to identify other platforms.
Understanding User Behavior
Behavior analysis can be used to study how individuals interact with social media platforms. Researchers can observe and analyze user behavior patterns, such as the frequency of posting, types of content shared, and interactions with others (e.g., likes, comments, shares). How much influence does the user have? Which friends or followers seem to interact with the user the most? In what capacity?
Location: Posts may contain information about a person’s location, such as check-ins or geotags, which can be used to verify alibis or track movements.
Relationships: Posts may reveal a person’s relationships with others, such as friends, family, or acquaintances, which can be used to identify potential suspects or witnesses.
Activities: Posts may provide information about a person’s activities, such as hobbies, interests, or daily routines, which can be used to establish patterns of behavior or gather evidence of illegal activities.
Emotions: Posts may reveal a person’s emotions, such as anger, sadness, or happiness, which can be used to assess their mental state and motivations.
Communications: Posts may contain messages, comments, or other communications with others, which can be used to identify potential witnesses or suspects, and to gather evidence of criminal activities.
Body Language
Technically, body language refers to the nonverbal signals that we convey through our physical movements and gestures, which are typically seen in person. However, in social media videos, you can still convey nonverbal cues through your facial expressions, tone of voice, and posture.
For example, facial expressions can show enthusiasm or sadness, change the tone of your voice will convey different emotions, and gestures may be used to emphasize certain points. Voice inflections can be a sign of stress or anxiety.
Studying a social media post’s background can be very telling as well. For example, a cluttered or messy background may communicate disorganization or lack of attention to detail, while a professional or clean background may communicate professionalism and attention to detail.
Social media posts can provide valuable clues in an investigation, as they can reveal a person’s thoughts, emotions, activities, and connections with others.
There are and will continue to be a wide range of reasons to pay close attention to social media for an investigation of any kind.
In an era dominated by technology, the landscape of romance has had a profound transformation, with virtual dating apps and hookup sites emerging as the new frontier for modern connections. The rise of dating applications and websites has revolutionized the way individuals meet and form relationships, transcending geographical boundaries and traditional social norms. While these apps offer a new and convenient way to find love and companionship, they have also become an interesting new terrain for private investigators, particularly in the context of cheating partners and divorces. The simple accessibility and lack of in-person convictions offered by these dating/hookup applications make it a breeding ground of infidelity, often leading to the discovery of unfaithful partners and contentious divorces. As the world of romance worms it’s way into the digital realm, the skills and tools used by private investigators grows substantially. Not only is there a need to follow and track in real life, but digitally as well. This shift prompts a closer examination of the intersection between virtual dating and the evolving role of private investigators in navigating the complexities of the modern dating landscape.
History of Dating Apps
Reflecting on the 90s, the proliferation of internet access and computers marked the beginning of a transformative era. Increasingly, individuals embraced this novel way of life, culminating in the launch of the first dating app in 1995. Match.comemerged, heralding a significant shift in the realm of romantic connections. The traditional requirement of an in-person “meet-cute” was no longer obligatory, opening the doors to an entirely new dating landscape. Fast forward to the early 2000s, the advent of social media took center stage. Facebook, MySpace, and soon after, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn all became integral parts of the digital lexicon. It becomes evident that as more people flocked to the online sphere, a proportionate surge in the number of single individuals navigating the digital dating realm occurred. In 2012, Tinder emerged, introducing a fresh perspective on online dating.
Tinder
Tinder, originally conceived by its founders, Sean Rad and Justin Mateen, emerged as a significant player in the dating app scene. In a 2014 Time magazine interview, the duo humorously shared that the app’s inception stemmed from Justin Mateen’s agoraphobia, jokingly attributing the need for virtual connections due to a fear of leaving the house. Whether this origin story holds true or not, the app rapidly gained immense popularity, functioning as a technologically advanced rendition of the classic “hot or not” concept. Users are presented with photos of potential matches nearby, with the option to swipe left for a “nope” or right for a “like.” For a match to occur, both parties must swipe right. In 2014, the staggering statistics reflected 500 million daily swipes and 5 million matches. Tinder’s creation marked a cornerstone in the whirlwind evolution of mobile dating apps.
Bumble
Another notable player in the dating app arena is Bumble, crafted by Whitney Wolfe Herdin 2014. Distinguished by its woman-centric approach, this app empowers women by placing control firmly in their hands. Similar to Tinder, users engage in the left or right swipe dynamic, but the key difference lies in the post-match interaction. Once a match is made, it’s the woman who must initiate the first move, setting a 24-hour window for communication. Should the male party not respond within this timeframe, the match dissipates. Bumble has cultivated a global community surpassing 100 million users across six continents, celebrating over 1.5 billion “first moves.” Beyond dating, Bumble expands its offerings to include options for making friends and professional connections, signaling a multifaceted approach to modern connections.
Demographics of Online Dating
The roster of dating apps in the present day continues to expand, featuring top contenders such as Tinder, Match, and Bumble, alongside others like OkCupid, Hinge, E-Harmony, Grindr, HER, and more. According to Pew Research, almost half of online dating users, with approximately eight in ten users under 30, report using Tinder, solidifying its status as the most widely used dating platform in the U.S. The study also reveals that 79% of Tinder users fall within the 18-29 age bracket, in contrast to apps like Match, which only has 9% of users aged 18-29 but peaks at 54% for users between 50-64. The expansive realm of online dating prompts an exploration into how these platforms can be leveraged in online investigations.
In addition to those earnestly seeking love through dating apps, there exists a cohort pursuing different objectives. According to Pew Research, a remarkable 31% of men on dating apps are in search of casual hook-ups or sexual encounters, while women account for 13%.
Are You For Real?
This prompts a contemplation on the authenticity of profiles—how many individuals are genuinely who they claim to be? Does the person boasting a six-figure job truly hold such a position? Is the individual claiming to be 35 truly reflective of their appearance in the posted picture? Moreover, does the seemingly amazing person discovered on a dating app truly lead a single life, or could they be engaging in infidelity within an existing relationship? Investigations often revolve around suspicions of infidelity, as exemplified by Stephanie, a 27-year-old whose story was featured in an article forBustle. Initially in love with her boyfriend, Stephanie’s world crumbled when a friend sent her a screenshot of her boyfriend’s dating profile. Conducting her own inquiry, Stephanie logged into her friend’s profile, messaged him, and asked for his phone number to verify his identity. The phone number matched, unveiling the truth and catapulting Stephanie into the midst of a breakup.
For the Private Investigator
As investigators delve into divorce or custody cases, particularly those involving infidelity, the complexities of utilizing dating apps as evidence come to the forefront. Distinguishing dating apps from social media, despite their similarities, is crucial. Unlike social media platforms, dating apps lack a searchable database by name, often featuring profiles with only first names, introducing additional possibilities and anomalies.The situation becomes more intricate due to the widespread existence of fraudulent profiles, especially on platforms that do not mandate identity verification. While some apps like Hinge or Bumble recommend features like real-time selfie verification for profiles, they are not obligatory, introducing an additional layer of complexity. A recent search for an individual accused of cheating during a divorce revealed the challenges inherent in scrutinizing dating apps. For platforms like Bumble, where a profile is mandatory for searching, investigators employ alias profiles. Premium features, allowing refined searches based on location, age, height, religious and political views, parental status and more enhance the investigative process. Despite comprehensive efforts, our search did not yield a profile. This experience highlighted the significant gaps in understanding the intricacies of navigating dating apps, emphasizing the need for a nuanced approach in such investigations.
Are Dating Apps Searchable?
This brings us to the forefront of a pivotal question: Can dating apps be searched? The answer is yes, but not in the manner one might initially envision. When exploring the prospect of searching through dating apps, numerous considerations come into play. Many of these platforms implement privacy settings that impede effortless user discovery. Some dating apps establish connections through Facebook or other social media platforms, often requesting your phone number. Through algorithms and the covert mechanisms of these applications, the potential exists for discovering mutual connections. Stories often circulate about individuals encountering friends of friends through dating apps, making the world feel strangely small. As previously highlighted, the search functionality plays a crucial role in such investigations. Typically, this feature involves selecting filters based on criteria such as height, age, location, or interests when seeking a specific individual. Adding to the complexity, the process of searching through dating apps may, at times, feel similarly to a game of chance. However, with the right parameters in place, the possibility of encountering your intended profile increases. We conducted our own thorough test to scrutinize the effectiveness of popular software, specifically assessing its capability to detect instances where an individual maintains multiple dating profiles. We subjected our subject to scrutiny using four of the most prominent software platforms, yet none of them successfully retrieved any data from dating apps. Despite yielding accurate information such as multiple social media profiles, correct addresses, and phone numbers, the absence of dating-related data reinforces our assertion. This underscores the notion that for effective searching through dating apps, a manual human touch remains indispensable.
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern romance, dating apps have emerged as a transformative force, reshaping the way individuals connect and form relationships. The journey from the internet’s early days to the present day mirrors the digital age’s progression, marking the birth of dating apps like Match.com and the subsequent rise of social media platforms. As we navigate this digital realm, private investigators find themselves at the intersection of virtual dating and real-life investigations, addressing the complexities introduced by infidelity and divorce cases. The expanding list of dating apps, from Tinder to Bumble and beyond, reflects the diversity of user objectives, leading us to question the authenticity of profiles and the challenges investigators face in uncovering the truth. The prevalence of casual encounters and the blurred lines between reality and online personas further complicate the investigative process. As investigators grapple with these challenges, the need for a nuanced and human-centric approach becomes evident, emphasizing the indispensable role of skilled professionals in untangling the intricate web of digital romance.
In the world of OSINT and Social Media, Cultural Intelligence is the understanding of the role culture plays in your subject’s day to day life. It can play a part in their interests, hobbies, word choices, religion, work, etc.. For instance, social media posts might include specialized language that becomes understandable only when we possess sufficient knowledge about the culture, enabling us to recognize distinctive word choices, iconology, or symbols.
A few years back we wrote, “The Role Culture Plays in Social Media Research” which provided some real life examples of how different cultures use language. During a recent search, our Senior Spanish Analyst uncovered a post that would lead the average person to think this individual was talking about her son. She called our person of interest her “Mijo” or “Hijo“ translated literally to mean son. Upon further investigation, our analyst knew from other data resources, that this woman was not his mother. It did indicate; however, she was a fan of his. Someone whom this woman held dear. The word son in Spanish can be used as a term of endearment or for someone you feel affection for.
Examples of Cultural Differences in Social Media
Self-Promotion vs. Humility:
In some Western cultures, self-promotion is common, and individuals may openly share their achievements and successes on social media. In certain Asian cultures, humility is valued more, and individuals may be more reserved in showcasing personal accomplishments to avoid appearing boastful.
The use of hashtags varies across cultures. While some cultures may embrace and create trending hashtags for various causes, others may not use them as frequently or may have different conventions for their use.
Personal vs. Professional Branding:
Cultural norms influence the balance between personal and professional content. In some cultures, people may seamlessly integrate personal and professional aspects of their lives on social media, while others maintain a clear distinction.
Social Media Posting
Frequency and Timing of Posts:
Cultural expectations regarding the frequency and timing of social media posts can differ. Some cultures may value regular updates, while others may prefer more selective and thoughtful sharing.
Response to Conflict:
Cultural norms play a role in how individuals respond to conflicts or disagreements on social media. Some cultures may prioritize maintaining harmony and avoid public confrontations, while others may engage in more direct debates.
Privacy Settings and Sharing:
Attitudes towards privacy impact how individuals configure their privacy settings. Some cultures may be more comfortable with public profiles, while others prefer stricter privacy controls.
Visual Content Preferences:
Cultural aesthetics influence the types of visual content shared. For instance, certain cultures may appreciate minimalist and clean designs, while others may prefer more vibrant and intricate visuals.
Community Building:
Cultural values shape the formation and participation in online communities. Some cultures may place a strong emphasis on building supportive and inclusive communities, while others may focus more on individual expression.
Language and Multilingualism:
Multilingualism is common on social media, and cultural context affects language use. Some cultures may use a mix of languages in their posts, reflecting the diversity within their community.
These examples highlight the diverse ways in which cultural differences manifest on social media platforms, influencing user behavior, content creation, and interaction styles. This is helpful when investigating a person of interest which may lead to critical information regarding your case.
Dive into the unpredictable world of modern romance, where the once alluring dating pool has morphed into a chaotic dance of disappointment. Pose the question to any of your single friends about their dating escapades, and you’ll likely be greeted with a disheartening grunt or a groan that echoes the struggles of love in today’s world.
Picture this battlefield called love, where tales unfold like a riveting saga interwoven with the pitfalls of dating apps, cringe-worthy matches, and the spine-tingling phenomenon of ghosting. It’s not just a casual dip into the dating scene; it’s a full-blown immersion into a realm where emotions run wild, and the pursuit of genuine connection feels like an epic quest.
To make matters worse, dating apps are a breeding ground for cheaters. Not only do you as a single individual have to navigate through finding a potential love connection, you have to be safe in doing so. There is always the potential that someone is impersonating who they say they are.
Once a Cheater…
Jana Hocking, a columnist for the NY post and other publications, shared her experience in a recent NY Post article. As many do through dating applications, Hocking matched with a man who stated he was from the UK. His name was Sebastian, “Seabass” for short. One thing led to another and Sebastian added her to his Whatsapp account. Quickly Hocking noticed he placed a privacy setting on their chat, erasing all messages between them. “Why would he need his messages to be wiped? Hocking thought, “My spidey senses began to alert me that something wasn’t quite right.” From there, Hocking went onto a Facebook Group she is apart of called “Sis, is this your Man?”, looking for any clues on the man she matched with. Upon further digging she discovered the site FaceCheckID, and decided to place the dates photograph into the site. To her dismay, Sebastian really wasn’t who he said he was, in fact, his name was entirely different. An Instagram pulled up on the subject, called Robert, with a lovely photo of his wife and children.
Online Research Tips
Identifying a cheater can feel like an impossible task. Especially when dating appsthemselves feel like the wild west. When someone wants to remain completely hidden, more than likely they will, but there is always, always that chance they mess up or are noticeable. Here are a few helpful tips from our expert analysts when conducting your own personal search on a cheater.
Facebook Groups- There are countless Facebook Groupsnationwide and within your area, that have been created for the sole purpose of exposing cheaters. Hop onto your Facebook page, and start to search for groups that are local to you or even those in different states, depending on the circumstances of your case.
Some common Facebook Group Titles are:
“Do We Have the Same Boyfriend?”
“Does Anyone Know Who This Is”
“Sis, Is This your Man?”
“Cheaters Group”
“Are We Dating the Same Person?”
Social Media Deep Dive- You never know what is truly out there on an individual until you take the time to really search it out. We always recommend taking time to identify an individuals social media and online presence. It takes but one tiny detail identified to elevate your findings and case.
Conversation Apps-WhatsApp is a fantastic application to identify related to your subject. Depending on a person of interests app settings, sometimes other apps they are connected to can be shown through their profile. We have seen a few times where a Tinder or Bumble account is pulled up on an individual, simply by checking if they has a WhatsApp account.
Cash Apps- Depending on the privacy settings an individual has set through certain Cash applications, this can be another way to identify who your person of interest may be hanging around or with.
Dating Apps- Dive into the dating applications that are out there. Here are a few apps cheaters could easily sign up for and choose: Badoo, Tinder, Ashley Maddison, Bumble, Lovoo.
Secret Mesaging Apps- Does your client have access to the said cheaters phone? There are several secret messaging appsthat they could identify such as Calculator Pro+, Hide My Text, Hago, Plato, Yubo, AmongChat.
We have countless requests from Private Investigators and Attorneys, from their clients, requesting information on if their partner or spouse is cheating. At E-Chatter our robust software, OSINT skills, and knowledgeable analysts all work together to identify cheaters.
